seely



J. A. SEELY.

TELEPHONE EXGHANGB. N0. 318,514 Patented May 26, 1885.

lllllhlllllll 9 N. PETCRS. Pmwuma n mr. Wnhington. n. C.

JOHN A. SEELY, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,514, dated May 26, 1885. Application filed October 0, 1884. (Nb model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be known that I, JOHN A. SEELY, of the city, county, and State of N ew York, a citizen of the United States of America,.have made a new and useful Improvement in Telephone Exchanges, of which the following is a specification.

At a central oflice of a telephone exchange many operators are employed, each of whom is entrusted to attend to the calls of a certain number of subscribers, while all of said operators are under the immediate supervision of a manager who is provided with means whereby he may communicate with and call all of the operators, and may connect his telephone in any subscribers wire with which an operator may be in connection.

I am aware that it is not new to provide an exchange with a series of operators tables, to each of which tables a part of the lines centering into the exchange are connected, together with a managers table which is capable of being connected with all of the operators tables; nor is it broadly new to loop a managers telephone into an operators line at the manager s table. Each operators table is provided with what is commonly known as an operators line, which extends fromtheearth at the operator s table, through a receiving and transmitting telephone,to the manager s table, there passing through a spring-jack or other suitable switch, by which the manager can loop his telephone into said line; and from the managers table the operatorsline extends back to the operators table, where it terminates in the switchbloek, which forms a normally-insulated terminal therefor. A second conductor, which Iterm the managers line, extends from each operators table to the managers table, and is provided at each end with a springjack and annunciator, thus enabling an operator, by connecting his line with the managers line, to signal the manager, or the manager, by connecting a battery to his line, to call the operator. The manager s table is provided with a telephone in an electrical conductor terminating in a switch-plug, whereby the manager may loop his telephone directly into an operators line by means of the springjack in said line which is at the managers table. The manager s table is also provided with an additional loop branch terminating in two switch-plugs, one of which normally connects with earth, whereby the manager may connect any two managers lines together, or any one managers line to earth. The managers table is provided with a signaling-battery and two keys, whereby the manager may signal either of two operators who are connected by managers lines, and each operator has a key and battery for signaling the manager over the operators and managers lines when connected, or for signaling a subscriber over the operators and subscribers lines when joined.

I will now describe my invention by reference to the accompanying drawing.

0 T is one of a series of operators tables, to which aseries of subscribers lines,SL, are con nected, said lines being joined to earth through springjacks having upper plates, 2 N, thence through ordinary drop-annunciators, and to G. Each operators table is also provided with a telephonic transmitter and receiver placed in a wire, hereinafter referred to as the operators line, one end of which is connected to earth at 4: G, while its other end terminates in a connecting-cord, M, and a plug having conducting part N. \Vhen a call is received over a subscribcrs line at the operators table, the operator inserts his switch-plug in the springjack of the calling-line, with conducting part N of the plug in contact with 2 N of the spring-jack, thus removing the annunciator and normal ground connection of the subscribers wire and completing the subscribers circuit from the springjack through the operators line, including cord M, post 0, wire 5, spring-jackf g, hereinafter described as the listening spring-jack, wire 4, key K, its back contact 20, wire 3, receiving-telephone D, wire 2, secondary of induction-coil I of the transmittingtelephone O, and thence to earth E by wire 1. \Vith the plug of the cord-switch inserted as just described,the operator may converse with the subscriber, or if connection with the subscribers line be made without a call from the subscriber, to attract the attention of the subscriber the operator will clepress his key K upon contact 21, thus closing the subscribers line to earth 4 G through battery B, thereby actuating the subscribers annunciator-drop.

In addition to the connecting of the operators apparatus to a subscribers line by cord switch M, said cord-switch may be used to connect the operators line with the manager by inserting the part N of the plug into contact with N of the spring-jack of the managers line-that is aline,H,eXtending from the managers table to each operators table. By means of the insulating part of the plug the earth-connection E 1 and annunciator 1 A are removed from the managers line H, and a circuit is completed from 3 E of the managers desk through wire 8, annunciator-drop 2 A,

wire 7, spring-jack 2 1;, wire 6 N N M, and thence over the operatorsline to earth E. It will be seen that the operator may now call the manager by depressing his own key K and dropping the managers annunciator 2 A, and that upon the manager connecting his tele phone with spring-jack 2 y the operator can, upon raising switch W, to bring strips 0 b into contact with l a and 2 a, converse with the manager through his own telephone. By means of annunciator 1 A on the managers line the manager is enabled to call the operator.

M T is the managers table. To comply with the requirements of the system, the manager should be able first to call the operator; and to this end the manager has a local battery which he can connect to the managers line H 10 operate annunciator 1 A; second, the manager should be able to converse with the operator both when the operator is connected to a subscribers wire and when he is not. At the left side of the managers table is an ordinary telephone-set, It being the receiver and T the transmitter. The induction coil and local therefor of the transmitter are not shown.

f and p are two set-screws, against which two keys, m and Z, normally rest at back contact, which keys are respectively connected by wires j and k with conducting bars or pieces 2 at and 1 a. Bar 2 ct is connected by wire 6 with conducting-strip f of a cord switch-plug, and 1 a by wire h with conducting-strip g of the same plug. XVith the circuit-connections as just described, if the cord switch-plug be inserted into its spring-jack with f in contact with f and g in contact with 9, it will be seen that the manager s telephone is inserted or looped directly into a subscribers line leading through the telephone of the operator, it being assumed, however, that cord-switch M has already connected the operator to a subscribers line, and that the normal earth of said line has been broken. Spring-jackf g, I designate as a listening spring-jack, from the fact that by it the manager can loop his telephone-set into a subscribers circuit connecting with an operator. The earth 3 G is connected to the middle of battery L B, and said battery, by depressing key m, may be employed to operate an annunciator-drop at the subscribers station when the plug f g is inserted in the listening-jack f g, as above described, and keyl may be employed to operate a drop at the 0perators table when the listening-plug is re moved; but in this case plug y must be inserted in spring-jack 2 y, and the switch WV, pivoted at u, must be depressed by turning cam-bar 25 until conducting-strip 12 comes in contact with 2 a and conducting-strip c in contact with 1 a. Vhen thus arranged,it will be seen that normally there is a circuit established from earth 2 G, through 2 z, cord 2, post as, wire 14, conductingstrip b, bar2 a, wire j m fT Rp 1, wire k, bar 1 a, strip a, wire 13, post w, cord y 3 2 '1 line H to annunciator 1 A and earth E. Upon depressing key Z against stop 0 a circuit will be established from 3 G to battery L B o 1, wire is 1 a 0, wire 13, post in, cord 3 y 2 y, and thence over managers circuit H to the operators annunciatorl A. To call the operator, therefore, plug 3/ being inserted in springja'ck y, the manager has only to depress lever W' until strips 12 0 come in contact with 2 a and 1 a, and to then depress key Z. In the same manner it will be seen that by depressing switch W and key at a second opera-r tor may be called,but as a condition precedent thereto plug 2 Z must be removed from its support and be placed in the spring-jack of a managersline (not shown) leading to the second operators board. If it is desired to place two operators switch-boards in communication,plug y is placed in spring-jack 2 y, and plug 2 Z is placed in the spring-jack of the managers line (not shown)leading' to the second operators switch-board, thus completing a circuit, as follows: From E over line H 2 3 3/9, wire 11, annunciator 3 A, wire 12, stationary back stop 1", strip b, wire 14, cord 2, plug 22, a springjack in the managers line (not shown) leading to the second operators board, and thence over the managers line running to the annun ciator of said second operator-board. With the two operator-boards thus connected, if it is desired by the manager to call the second operator by the annunciator on the managers line leading to the second operators table, lever WV is depressed until strip 12 comes in contact with 2 a. Key 122 is then depressed against stop n, thus connecting the annunciator of the second operator with battery L B, through key m, bar 2 a, strip 12, wire 14, plug 2 z, and thence through the managers line to the second operators annunciator. Annunciator 3A is employed only when two operator-boards are connected to apprise the manager when to disconnect said circuit by removing plugs y and 2 z from their spring-jacks in the managers lines. The manager is thusinformed by the operator, say at 0 T, who, by the depression of his key 70 against stop 21, sends a current from battery 13 through annunciator 3 A. WVith the arrangement here shown, and while two operators are connected, it will be seen that the managers telephone may be connected in said circuit by inserting plug f g in spring-jack f 9, thereby enabling the manager to listen to the conversation between the operators, and. to speak to them. This circuit, including the managers telephone, is as follows: Earth E, operators IIO telephone, wire 4, f f, wire e, 2 a, wire j, R T, wire 70 1 a, wire h g g, plug N, line II 2 y y, wire 11, annunciator 3 A. wire 12 r, strip 1), wire 14, and plug 25, and the managers line to the second board corresponding with managers line H. Each operators board is provided with a line, H, and an open branch circuit, including atelephone-set and alistening spring-jack, as here shown.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a telephone-exchange, an operators line for each operators table, including a spring-jack for looping in the managers telephone a managers line for each operators table, and plugs and spring-jacks for joining any two managers lines together through the managers table, and a looping apparatus for joining the managers apparatus in an operators line.

2. In a telephone exchange, the combination of an operators and a managers line at each operators table, a managers telephone and signaling devices, switching devices for looping two manager-lines together through the managers table, and switching devices for looping the managers table into an operators line.

3. In a telephoneexchange, the combination of an operators table at which a part of the subscribers wires terminate, an operators line, including a spring-jack for looping a conductor therein, a managers table, a managers line for each operators table of the exchange, a managers telephone adapted to be looped into the operator s line, a battery at the managers table, a switch at said table, two switch-plugs for connecting with managers lines, and two signaling-keys, substantially as described.

4:. In a telephone-exchange, the combination of an operators line having a telephone and a springjack for connecting a loop-wire therein, and a series of subscribers wires each having an earth-connection at the switchboard, and respective spring-jacks, whereby the operators line may be connected to any one of the subscribers lines terminating a the operators table,and the earth-connection of the subscribers lines may at the same time be broken.

5. In a telephone-exchange, the combination of an operators line whose ends are respect ively connected to earth and to a switch-plug embracing a telephone and a spring-jack, a battery at the operators table, and a key for connecting said battery to the operators line, an independent managers line extending from the operators table to the managers table, having a spring-jack and annunciator at each end, a loop conductor embracing an annunciator terminating in two switch-plugs for con necting two operators tables together through the managers table, a battery, a switch, IV, and two keys for signaling from the managers table to either operator when connected together, and a loop-circuit embracing the managers telephone which may be inserted into an operators line.

6. In a telephone-exchange at a managers table, the combination of a loop branch, including annunciator 3 A,which terminates in switch plugs y and 2 ,2, earth-connection 2 G, switch W, substantially as described, battery L B, and earth-connection 8 G, keys Z and m, and a loop conductor embracing the managers telephone R T and terminating in switchplug f g.

7. In a telephone-exchange, the combination of a series of managers lines, H, extending to the operator tableaeach line having a spring jack and annunciator at both ends, a loop conductor embracing annunciator 3 A, and terminating in switch-plugs and 2 z for connecting any two of the lines H, and an earthconnection, 2 G, for connecting any one of the managers lines to earth through annunciator 3 A.

8. In a telephone-exchange, the combination of a managers line to enable the manager and operator to signal each other when at their respective tables, an operators line eX- tending from the operators table by way of the managers table to the switch-board, and switching devices for looping the managers telephone into the operators line.

JOHN A. SEELY.

XVitnesses:

WM. AnNoUX, A. A. XVAr'rEns. 

